Valve construction for internal-combustion engines.



D. J. MCKINNON.

VALVE cowsmucnow FOR INTERNAL comsusnow memes APPLICATION FILED 06116. $909.

1 197$}? Iatcratvdfivpt. 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Z5 $550 We 2 1. mxmwow. I VALVE CONSTRUCTION FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

- APPLICATION FILED QCT. I6. 1909.

9 /451 7.; Patented Sept. 5 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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DONALD J. MGKINNON, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PACKARD MOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF DETROIT,MICHIGAN,

A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

VALVE CONSTRUCTION FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed October 16, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

i Be it known that I, DONALD J. MoKninoN,

.a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Toronto, in the Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, have iiivented a new and useful Improvement in Valve Constructions for Internal-Combusternal combustion engines.

.An object of the invention is to provide a. balanced valve for internal combustion engines, which is of simple and inexpensive but strong and. durable construction, and is arranged so that it has an extended bearing surface on the cylinder, is kept from heating, can be readily lubricated and easily repaired, and the friction and wear on the :valve and its seat are reduced to the minimum and the engine is rendered more nearly silent in operation.

7 Another object of the invention is to provide a sleeve valve type of engine in which the sleeve valve is located so that it is not subjected to the direct action of the hot gases.

Another object is to provide an engine with the sleeve valve located out of contact with the hot gases, and yet have the diameter of the cylinder adjacent the valve no greater than the portion around the piston.

These results are attained by employing a hollow cylindrical valve which is mounted to revolve externally on the contracted cylindrical water-jacketed combustion chamber of the cylinder and is provided with one or more ports which are caused to register at the proper times with inlet and exhaust ports passing through the side walls'of the combustion chamber.

The improvements are herein described and illustrated in the drawings as applied to an engine of the four-cycle type, but the improvements are not necessarily restricted in application to this type of engine.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets: Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of an internal combustion engine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the combustion Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916..

Serial No. 522,909.

chamber and valve in line 3-3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4. 1S across-section thweof in line M, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross .ion showing a valve of slightly modified construction. Fig. 6 is a; side elevation, partly in section, oi a multiple cylinder engine showing a different valve driving mechanism.

Like referencecharacters refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the cylinder, 13 the piston C the crank shaft, 0 the pitinan connecting the piston and crank shaft, and D the crank chamber of a four-cycle internal combustion engine. These parts, with the exception oi the cylinder, may be of any usual or suitable construction.

The cylinder A is provided with a piston chamber a in which the piston reciprocates and with a combustion or compression chant. her which is preferably relatively long and of smaller diameter than the piston chamber and is located axially in line therewith. The walls of both the piston and combustion chambers are preferably made hollow or provided with the usual water jacket.

(E and F represent respectively inlet and exhaust ports extending through, the side walls, of the combustion chamber, and Grenresents a rotary cylindrical i a.l\"-eoisleei e which surrounds the combustion chamber and is provided with one'op more ports which are caused, by thei rotatioiilof the valve about the combustionchamber in, the direction indicated by the. arrow in 3, to register in succession -withithe exhaus and inlet ports Fahd E injsuch. manner as to admit r he fuel to and exhaust] theburnt gases... froiri"the cylinder at the propertiines with relation to the strokes or the piston. In the con tructionshowii in Figs. 144;, the inlet andjexhaust ports E F are located with their centers in the;samegplan and at a: 'distaficesoniewhat greater, tlian ninety degrees apart, nd the! valve is provided with ,a single port Thevallve we omeneouslyand as the engine, lustrated is of the fiou cycle type the valvei otated by in'echairism of any suitable" constructiom;which intance, in the construction 5, the valve G is provided with two diametrically opposite ports 9' and revolved once during every four revolutions of the crank shaft.

The valve preferably has an end plate or wall with a central hole which is journaled to rotate on. a hollow cylindrical boss or stud 7 which projects centrally from the end of the com! ion. chamber and affords an opening in which the spark-plug or igniter is located. the valve being retained on the stud as hereinafter explained.

ll represents a stationary shell or casing which surrounds the valve G and pro-- vided with nipples or fittings h and 7t regiscrin-g respectively with the inlet and exhaust ports l5 and l for the attachment of suitable pipes for sup 'ilying the fuel to the cylinder and carrying off the exhaustgases. The casing ll may be stationarily secured on the cylinder in any suitable manner, for instance, the casing and the cylinder are provided with abutting annular flanges which are secured together by bolts or other fasten-- ings. The joints between the rotary valve (1? and the combustion chan'iber and easing H an be packed in any suitable way to prevent leakage of the gases from the ports between these parts. As shown, packing rings are provided between the valve and the combustion chamber in grooves in the outer face of the combustion chamber surrounding the inlet and exhaust ports E and F, and other packing rings 2' and i are provided between the end and the cylindrical walls of the valve and the combustion chamber and between the valve and the stationary casing.

The valve is rotated by suitable mechanism which, in the single-cylinder engine shown in Figs. 1-4, consists of a shaft K journaled-in hearings on the cylinder and easing H and driven by bevel gear wheels 7: from the crank. shaft C and provided at one end with a gear pinion Z1 which meshes with a gear wheel k which is secured to or formed integral with the end of the valve.

L represents a flanged cover or end plate which is secured on the hollow stud at the end of the combustion chamber by a Washer and nut 7, which is screwed on the threaded extremity of the stud. This cover incloses and protects the gear wheels and 1', and also serves to secure the valve on the stud Fig. 6 shows a valve rotating mechanism of different construction applied to a mul tiple cylinder engine. The valves are constructed and arranged on the combustion chambers at the ends of the cylinders Si in the manner explained above. but the valves are provided with. worm wheels in which mesh with worms in. on a shaft M which is journalcd in suitable bearings on the slialinnary casings ii parallel with the crank shaft, the worm shaft being driven by silent chain N, passing around chain wheels n n on the crank shaft and worm shaft. Any other suitable mechanism for driving the valves, either in a single or a multiple cylinder engine, could be employed.

As the interior surface of the rotary valve is exposed at the inlet and exhaust ports E and F to the pressure in the combustion chamber during the compression and power strokes of the piston, and as'these ports are not opposite to each other, the pressure on the valve will be unbalanced unless provision is made to prevent this. The valve is preferably balanced by providing, blind ports 0 in the cylinder which are located at opposite sides of the plane of the inlet and exhaust-ports and diametrically opposite to a line substantially midway between the inlet and exhaust ports. These blind ports are made of suitable size for the pressure acting through them on the valve to substantially balance the pressure acting on the valve through the inlet and exhaust ports.

By the described construction and arrangement of the rotary valve, it is located outside of the jacketed combustion chamber where it is kept at a substantially constant low temperature by the cooling fluid of the jacket, which simplifies the problem of keeping the valve thoroughly lubricated and reduces the possibility of trouble due to differences in the expansion-of different portions thereof. The valve is also of easy access for repairing it and as it is balanced and rotates continuously in the same direc tion on the extended bearing surface afforded by the external face of the combustion chamber, the friction and wear are reduced to the minimum and the valve is practically noiseless in operation.

It will be observed that the head portion of the cylinder which forms the combustion chamber is of less diameter than the portion of the cylinder in which the piston operates, or the piston portion as it may be termed. Furthermore, the diameter of said head portion with its water jacket is such that the sleeve valve and surrounding casing may be assembled so that the outside diameter of the casing is not greater than the piston portion of the cylinder. Thus. the outside diameter of the cylinder as a whole is not increased by the outside location of the sleeve valve. Consequently, the length of multiple cylinder engine constructed according to thi invention is a. minimum.

I claim as my invention:

1. in an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder having a piston chambe circular cross-section provided with inlet and exhaust ports in its side walls, oi a rotary valve which surrounds a port whirl:

'tiiil said nlc Jul exand a combustion hamber of j id combustion haust ports by the rotation of the valve, and a casing provided with fuel supply and exhaust connections for said inlet and exhaust ports, one or more openings being provided in the walls of the combustion chamber for balancing the pressure on the 'alve, sub stantially as set forth.

2. ln an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder having a piston chamber and a combustion chamber of circular cross-section provided with inlet and exhaust ports in its side walls, of a rotary valve which surrounds said combuschamber or reduced sectional area which is provided with inlet and exhaust ports in its side walls and with a projecting stud at its end, of a rotary cylindrical valve which surroi'lnds the combustion chamber and is provided with an end journaled on said stud and with a port which is caused to register with said inlet and exhaust ports by the rotation of the 'alve, means for retaining the valve on said stud, and a stationary casing which surrounds the valve and provided with inlet and exhaust connections for said inlet and exhaust ports, sul'istantially as set forth.

l, .ln an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder comprising a piston portion and a head portion contracted 'in diameter relative to the piston portion, said cylinder also having detachably connected thereto a.v casing portion surrounding and separated from the head portion and forming; therewith an annular valve chamber, of a valve mechanisinineluding a valve sleeve in said. chamber and surrounding; said head portion, and a piston operating in the piston portioin the outside dian'ieter of the casing being less than the piston portion of the vlinder.

5. in an. internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder having a head and a portion surrounding said head and spaced theretorm to torn: an annular valve. chamber thercbetween, said head and portion being separable and having" registering ports therein, of a piston operating, in said cylinder entirely below the lower end of said valve chamber, valve mechanism for controlling said ports and including a sleeve,

valve arranged in said chamber-and provided with a port through which both the inlet and exhaust gases may pass, and means for operating said valve mechanism on the four-stroke cycle.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a plurality of vertical cylinders arranged in line and comprising piston portions and inner and outer cylindrical portions ar anged above each piston portion, the outer cylindrical portions of several cylinders being formed of a single interg ral casting and surrounding the sev eral separated inner or head portions, said head portions, being spaced from the outer portions to form annular valve chambers for theseveral cylinders entirely above the travel of the pistons, of a sleeve valve arranged in each of said chambers, said valves and said inner and outer portions having co operating ports, and means for operating said valves to open and close the ports on the four-stroke cycle.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of an engine cylinder provided with a rotatable valve member entering and traveling in a recess formed inside the walls of the cylinder, means rotating said valve member, and means controlled by said valve member admitting gas to and exhausting it from said cylinder, there being openings in the inner wall of the cylinder out of register with and so arranged with reference to the means for admitting and exhausting gas to the cylinder that the valve is balanced against pressure arising within the cylinder in all positions of its rotation.

R. ll'h. a. device of the class described, the combination of an engine cylinder provided with a rotatable valve member enteringand traveling in a recess formed inside the wall of the cylinder, means rotating said valve niembe and openings through the valve and cylinder located in a plane approximately in the middle of the length of the valve, controlled by the valve, admitting gas to and exhausting it from said cylinder, there being also openings inthe inner wall of the cylinder out of register with the valve open inns, and so arranged with reference to it that the valve is balanced against pressure a ising: within the cylinder in all positions ol its rotation.

9. ln a device of the class described, the combination of an engine cylinder provided with a rotatable valve member entering and travelingin a recess formed inside the wall of the cylinder.v means rotating said valve member and openings through the valve and cylinder located in a plane approximately in the middle of the length of the valve, controlled by the valve, admitting gas to and exhausting it trom said cylinder, there being also openings in the inner wall of the cylinder above and below the valve opening,

wherebythe valve is balanced against pres sure arising within the cylinder in all positions of its rotation.

10. In a deviceoi' the class described-,a ported cylinder, a port controlling sleeve revoluble about said cylinder, an annular shoulder on said cylinder above the upper edge of said sleeve, and a ring adapted to fit about said cylinder in contact with said shoulder.

11 In a device of the class described, a ported cylinder, a port controlling sleeve revoluble about said cylinder, an annular shoulder on said cylinder above the upper edge of said sleeve, firing adapted to fit about said cylinder in contact with said shoulder, and means for retaining said ring in such contact.

12. In a hydrocarbon motor, the'combination with a cylinder comprising a doublewalled portion in which the piston ope ates and two cylindrical portions arranged concentrically above the piston portion and one of which forms an integral extension of the piston portion and the other of which is oined to the piston portion, the inner of said cylindrical portions having spaced inner and outer walls which are contracted relative to the corresponding walls of the piston portion and said inner portion forming the cylinder head, and the outer of said cylindrical portions being separated from the inner portion to form an annular valve chamber therelmtween, saidcylindrical portions having ports, of a valve mechanism including a sleeve valve arranged in said annular chamber and adapted to control said. ports, and

means for operating said valve mechanism.

13. In a hydrocarbon motor, the combination with a cylinder having a head and a portion surrounding said head and spaced therefrom to form an annular valve chamber therebetween, said head and portion having registering ports therein, of a pistonoperating in said cylinder below said head, valve mechanism for controlling said ports and including-a sleeve arranged in said an nular chamber and provided with a portthrough which both the inlet and exhaust gases may pass, and means for operating said valve mechanism on the four stroke cycle. I

14. In 'a hydrocarbon motor, thecomblnation with a double walled cylinder pro viding a space between the walls for a water jacket, a working piston in the cylinder ope 'ating in direct contact with the inner wall thereof, a cylindrical head portion above said cylinder forming a combustion space of smaller diameter than the inner diameter of said cylinder, and the outer diameter of said. head portion being smaller than the outer wall of said cylinder, a second cylirulrical portion above said cylinder, spaced from and surrounding said head portion, one of said portions being formed integrally with the cylinder and the other being joined to the cylinder by a tight joint substantially above the piston travel, said portions forming an annular valve chamber between them and having cooperating ports, of a sleeve val-re in said chamber and controll' ig said ports to operate the motor on the four stroke cycle, and means for operating said sleeve valve.

15. In a hydrocarbon motor, the combination with a cylinder comprising a double walled portion in which the piston operates and two cylindrical portions arranged concentric to each other and axially above the piston portion and one of which forms an integral extension of the piston portion and the other of which is jointed to said piston portion, the inner of said cylindrical portions having spaced inner and outer walls which are contracted relative to the corresponding Walls of the piston portion and having its interior wall closed at the upper end and open at the lower end thereby forming a contracted cylindrical combustion chamber in constant communication with the interior of the piston portion of the cylinder, and the outer of said cylindrical portions bemgseparated from the nner portion to form an annular valve chamber therebetween, said cylindrical portions having reg istering-ports, of a sleeve valve arranged in said annular chamber and adapted to open and close: said ports, and means for operating said sleeve valve.

Witness my hand, this 5th day of October,

DONALD J. MCKINNON. Witnesses J. Enw. IVIAYBEE, F. W'. MGKENDRIGK.

it is hereby certified that in Letters Patent, No. 1,197,517, granted September 5,

1916, upon the application of DonalciJ. MeKinnon, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, for an improvenoent in Valve Constructions for IntefnM-Gombustion Engines, an.

error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows; Page line 83, claim 15, for the word "j0inted read joined; and that the seid Letteie Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform '50 the record of the case in the Patent Ofiicei Signed and sealed this Zeith day of October, A, 1)., 1916.

31%. F. W. H. CLAY,

3i 1 e' 1 emf- A02 1291 omnms on 1 m i r 

